Anne Kidder Poor

Anne Kidder Poor, of Marblehead, died at home after a brief illness. Known affectionately as “Tutu” to her family and friends, she lived a full and vibrant 91 years. Anne was the beloved wife of the late Arthur P. “Tup” Poor with whom she shared 51 years of marriage prior to his death in 1992.

Anne was born and raised in Winchester and was the youngest of six children of the late Mary Williams Kidder and Arthur A. Kidder. Her grandfather Charles Williams owned the workshop on Court Street in Boston in which Alexander Graham Bell conducted his earliest experiments with the telephone and it was from this workshop that the first outdoor telephone line was run to the Williams home in Somerville. She was a graduate of the Brimmer and May School and attended Bennett College in New York.

As a 70 year resident of Swampscott and Marblehead, Anne was a member of the Old North Church of Marblehead, a frequent volunteer at the Salem Hospital and was recently honored as a founding member of the Merry Mixers, a fundraising group for North Shore Childrens Hospital. She was a member of Eastern Yacht Club, Tedesco Country Club, The Beach Club and the Garden Clubs of Marblehead and Swampscott. She was a supporter of many local charities including the Peabody Essex Museum, Marblehead Historical Society, and the Lee Mansion to name a few.

She is survived by her son, Mike Poor and his wife Loel of Naples, Florida and her daughters, Carol Hayden and her husband Chick of Rye, New Hampshire, Bette Fitts and her husband Dave of New Castle, New Hampshire and Wendy Indvik and her husband Erik of Bainbridge Island, Washington. Tutu took great delight in her frequent interactions with her 12 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren with whom she was able to develop a special bond. Her style, grace, and warm friendly manner has made an indelible impression on her family which she has guided for more than 70 years.

A memorial service will be held at the Old North Church, 35 Washington Street, Marblehead on Wednesday, January 11 at 11AM. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anne’s memory to Merry Mixers Friends of the Mass General for Children at North Shore Medical Center, P.O. Box 1282, Marblehead, MA 01945. Arrangements by the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, Marblehead.